[Hiaboo]

OK, I'm looking into getting my grubby hands on a winny 94. I continually see people talking about reloading the .30-30 with pistol powder and the like.. BUT I have not see any "recipies" or explainations on HOW to figure/do this out.. IF this is a REALLY bad idea, then forget it, I will use rifle powder.

I have been reloading for a short time with .223 only but have helped others with pistol rounds. So I'd appreciate it if someone could point me into the correct direction.

Also I'm planning on casting for this round as well, I have some lead sitting by specifically for this purpose (about 50 lbs or so, not much) but I will start with purchasing cast bullets elsewhere then start casting.

So, a little info or a shove in the correct direction would be great!

[Galil5.56]

I have used Red Dot, and Unique to load plinker rounds in 30/30 using 150 grain cast bullets I cast from a Lee mold. Lots of fun, and dirt cheap. No need for gas checks either if you keep the velocity fairly low, and the bullet properly sized, even with straight wheel weights.

When I first started making/shooting these loads, wheel weights were free everywhere, powder was about $6.95/lb by the pound, and primers less than $1.00/hundred... Talk about cheap shooting, and even by today's standards it's very affordable. Have fun.

[depoloni]

Have reference to several loads here, namely with 2400 and Unique, for mild-velocity cast loads however neither happens to be for your bullet weight. Good friend shoots a lot of cowboy competition and was the source for what info I do have, will make a point to ask for more loads. Interesting idea really, never got around to trying them as I don't use the "thutty" for much with fancier rifles to play with. That don't do it any better :)

[SASS#23149]

I use 10 grains Unique under a 170 grain cast bullet,get about 1500 fps.
Makes a great way to use my rifle more and at less cost.
Rngs steel at 100 yds,no problem.

[Hiaboo]

Sounds good to me guys, but how do you find these loads anyhow? What if I used 15gr. unique instead of 10gr?.. That's kind of the info I'm looking for speicifically, keep 'em coming guys!

[lgbloader]

I use Trail boss with lead cast FP bullets.

[SASS#23149]

You find thes loads in a load manual,like my Lyman's.You/we don't guess at them,we follow the powder mfgrs. loads that have been tested for maxiimum pressures created by these loads.
I"m hoping you use a manual for the calibers you reload now? same thing goes for thirty thirty 'light' loads.

[1911user]

pistol powder is only used for reduced power rifle loads. If you want full power loads, use the proper rifle powder.

[Hiaboo]

I certainly do follow reloading manuals (albeit online) but I don't recall seeing any of the rifle loads with pistol powder -- Should I look at pistol powder listings for this info? I don't own any other manuals, I'm kind of low on $ but I guess I should just go and get a couple and get it over with. Maybe one of those "one caliber" books that midway? has?

[Harve Curry]

Look at cast bullet load info. Lyman manuals. Powder makers have free pamphlet manuals usually at the store counters.
I've used the Lyman mold for the 117gr 32-20 bullet without the gas check makes a accurate plinking load with 7 1/2gr of Unique about 1500fps.

[SASS#23149]

I can scan and email,or pm,the pages from my LYman's if you'd like.It'll be a day or 2,my buddy has it at his place right now.

[zxcvbob]

Sounds good to me guys, but how do you find these loads anyhow? What if I used 15gr. unique instead of 10gr?

You will likely blow up your gun. 15 grains is about right for a .30-06 case. .30-30 is a lot smaller, so the pressure will be higher for the same amount of powder.

BTW, has anyone used Blue Dot in .30-06? I have a half a pound that I want to use up, and a box of Berry's copper-plated .30-30 bullets. I can calculate the amount of powder, I just wonder how well BD will work for this. I bought the bullets (back when they were cheap) to use with Red Dot powder in .30-06 and haven't gotten a round tuit yet.

[ants]

I've never used these loads from the Lyman book, but they list these for 170 grain LEAD bullets, not jacketed:
Unique 7.0 to 10.6 grains (1568fps at max load)
Herco 9.0 to 11.5 grains (1538fps at max load)
SR-4756 7.0 to 10.5 grains (1431fps at max load)
All are at 2.521" minimum OAL.

Exact same loads are listed for 173 grain Lead bullets except Herco is listed at 8.5 to 11.0 grains, and minimum OAL is 2.510" for all three powders.

All lead bullets are gas checked. There are no loads for jacketed bullets. You can use your Berry's plated bullets the same as gas checked lead.

[rcmodel]

Keep in mind tha any 30-30 load using pistol powder is intended to be a reduced or light load using lead cast bullets.

Switching to jacketed bullets, and/or increasing powder charges past recommended & tested lead bullet load data will ruin your whole day, and your rifle!

Here are some safe loads from Alliant using pistol powder.
http://www.alliantpowder.com/reloaders/RecipeList.aspx?gauge=&gtypeid=4&title=Silhouette%20Load

Bottom line is to save your pennies and buy the Lyman reloading manual for the foremost authority of reduced loads for all calibers.

rcmodel

[mkl]

Go here: http://www.gmdr.com/lever/lowveldata.htm

Look in the left column and click on 30-30 170 gr. bullet.

These are CAS loads for lead bullets. As has been said, never use pistol powder for full power loads.

[Harley Quinn]

I have used 3031 in the past, it is good "imho"

http://www.chuckhawks.com/rifles_loads.htm

Reduced loads in rifle are tricky. Lots of good information has been offered

:uhoh:

[Mike 56]

I loaded 7.5x55 with 150gr jacketed bullets with 14gr Unique but worked up from 10gr. The 10gr load was very accurate at 50yds.

I have also had luck loading 7.62x54R with jacketed 150gr bullets 13gr Red Dot.

A reduced version of these would be fine for 30-30 Google Ed Harris 30-30 loads and i am sure you find a lot of info.

Mike

[Hiaboo]

Gas checks with pistol powder loads or no?

[rcmodel]

Most .30 cal lead bullets will be gas-check design.

Not all, but most of them.

You really need to get a Lyman manual before you get too far into this!

rcmodel

[Hiaboo]

I just picked up a Lyman #47 in a lot of reloading stuff that I got for a song I'll be going over that. I just find it easier to ply and poke around experienced people's brains AND read the reference material.

[Kosh75287]

Using pistol powders for loads approaching full power in .30-30 MIGHT be possible if one uses the slower burning ones, like Alliant 2400 or H4227 or H110. Alliant lists 16.0/2400/152fp as a silhouette load. It clocks 1650 f/s, but I didn't see a barrel length. The same load, but with a 170 grain Remington Soft Point Core-Lokt, clocks 1500 f/s. Also listed was 13.0/BlueDot/152fp, at 1525f/s.
I would THINK that similar data using the H110 or H4227 is out there somewhere.
I hope you find this information of help.